March 10, 2010

Don't you hate when someone asks you to name your favorite cake, pie, cookie, or--gimme a break--dessert in general? I detest it. To me, that's like asking a mother to name her favorite child--completely absurd and impossible to do.

Not only do I strive to be an equal-opportunity eater of treats, but my tastes also change at least once a week. One day I may decide impossible coconut pie is the best dessert ever simply because I'm eating a sliver slab of it at the time, but the next day, as I snack on some apple dapple cake, I might convince myself that nothing can compare to it.

It's futile to even attempt to name my favorite cookie, but one that's always high on the list is the good ol' oatmeal scotchie. These bad boys are chewy and hearty and packed with sweet, rich butterscotch morsels (which, incidentally, taste nothing like butterscotch to me)(clearly, I don't mind).

You don't often see many deviations from Nestle's classic recipe, but when I came across a version including a bit of coconut, I got pretty excited. How excited? Perhaps the equivalent of brushing past Bruce Springsteen in the street. Okay, maybe not that excited. Let's say the equivalent of seeing Bruce Springsteen from afar.

Anyway, my excitement was warranted because the addition of coconut (I added flakes and a bit of extract) made these palatable pucks even better. Other changes? I increased the cinnamon and baked the batter in pie plates. Fun!

This is totally my favorite type cookie. For today.

So, in the name of hypocrisy, what's your favorite cookie? In the same vein, mothers, do you have a favorite child? :)

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch pie plates or a 15x10" jelly-roll pan.Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat together the butter, sugars, eggs, and extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Stir in the oats, morsels, and coconut. Spread into the prepared pan(s) and bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until light brown. Keep your eye on them--'tis better to be a bit gooey than as hard as a rock!

For cookies:Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets and bake for 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies or 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

If we had butterscotch morsels down under I would be making this tomorrow.On another note, your blog post title made me chuckle as it brought up memories of Vizzini, with his 'inconceivable' catchphrase.

I don't know. I can pretty much say flourless chocolate cake all the time. Nothing tops it in my book. And I do have a favorite child. If stranded on a dessert island, and I could only have one, I know which one I would bring!

Oooh, I've never heard of an oatmeal scothcie..they look a bit like an Anzac biscuit on steroids! (I mean that in a good complimentary way).

Today, one child had a mini-tantrum and refused to wear her gumboots, instead choosing to walk a fair distance in just her socks, resulting in mud caked socks. Favourite child for today? The other one who wore shoes :)

No way can I pick a favorite dessert. Nor a favorite child. BUT I can pick a favorite cookie. I am soooo boring. I dearly love an old fashioined chocolate chip, right out of the oven with a glass of cold milk. God, I AM getting old!

Mixing oatmeal, butterscotch morsels and coconut together is an inspired cookie. Or is is a pie?

Haha.. I have no idea what my favorite dessert is (or my favorite band which some guy harassed me about in a bar last week but that's a whole 'nother topic). But just about anything with oatmeal or cinnamon in it makes me happy :)

Favorites? Well I think we all have them but, as you say, it is situational. In the summer Baklava and Gelato are divine. In winter, Pecan Pie. All the time it could be chocolate. Still I wouldn't say no to these cookies!

Anything with butterscotch morsels has to be a piece of heaven. My favorite child would be my dog. He listens when I speak and can be put in his crate when I leave. Easy! THe other two....totally different story. As for cookies, today I would pick chocolate chip but tomorrow ask me again.

Mmmmmm adding a little coconut to an already delicious scotchie sounds great to me! BTW I had the whole "whats your favorite dessert" question too. I never know what to say...uggg to many delicious choices.

Agreed!! It is way to hard to name my favorite treat. Some days it is cakey, other times crumbly, sometimes warm and gooey. Heck some days even ice cream steals the show! This bar-cookie thingy you have created could swoon me anytime! Great job :)

I'm just staring blankly at the title of your new recipe in complete and utter awe. You added more of my favorite things to my already favorite cookie and turned it into slab form.I always thought you were a genius. NOW there is no denying it!

Hah -- "equal opportunity eater" -- I love it! I strive to be one too (not that hard I guess :p). I've never heard of this recipe but it looks great PLUS includes a bunch of my favorite ingredients: oatmeal, brown sugar, butter, YUM!

Anything with 2 sticks of butter has my vote for my favorite. You are right it is to hard to pick a favorite but today I will choose a fudgy warm brownie. Maybe becasue it is raining cats and dogs and I need something gooey!